Drivers can help ward off temptations for distraction

Distracted driving is a major threat to roadway safety for people on the roads in Georgia and across the United States. As smartphones and various forms of text-based communication have become a major part of daily life, the availability of these communication technologies poses a tempting risk of distraction to drivers behind the wheel. There has been in recent years a spike in fatal car accidents, and some safety experts caution that it could be directly linked to the popularity of smartphone technologies.

While drivers show a generally widespread knowledge of the dangers that texting and driving and other distracted behaviors can pose on the roadway, a large number of drivers continue to succumb to the appeal of such distractions. Consumer Reports conducted one such survey in which half of all licensed drivers with smartphones said that they sometimes text, browse the web, use apps or send email while behind the wheel. Technical obstacles to distracted driving can help to prevent drivers from putting themselves and others at risk. For example, smartphone manufacturers and app developers offer a range of car-mode applications that can be used to block notifications or send automatic replies.

The beeps and alarms of incoming messages may be alluring to a driver stopped at a red light or sitting in traffic. There are other actions that drivers can take, including placing the phone physically out of reach. Of course, discouragement also comes in the form of law enforcement; many states have passed laws against texting and driving that impose heavy fines.

While many recognize the risk of distracted driving, people are still seriously injured in car accidents linked to distracted behavior on a daily basis. Car accident victims who have been injured due to another’s negligent or dangerous driving might consult with a personal injury lawyer about seeking compensation for their lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages.